Military History

Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France and Flanders	British War & Victory Medals	Cambrai Memorial
Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
17 Mar 1916	~	Salford Priors
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
Battle of Cambrai	1 Nov 1915 at Stratford on Avon	~
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
near Crèvecoeur	~

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Alfred was listed as being missing in action on 30 Nov 1917 and later confirmed to have been killed on that day and his remains were never found. The war diary entry for the day is transcribed below.

"Big German attack on large front including ours and heavy fighting. Companies surrounded and overwhelmed. Remnants take up position in Hindenburg Support Line. Remnants consist of four officers 16 other ranks mostly HQ. German attack comes from direction of high ground south of Masniers and the cemetery overlooking Crèvecoeur and also from the direction of Lateau Wood. Outpost company completely cut off, enemy penetrating between posts ? 300 yards apart with only a short field of fire. Mainline companies put up a fine fight and held the enemy in front but were cut off on both sides. Very few came through". END

An account of the actions that day reveal more information leading to Alfred's death:

"On November 30 the German Second Army, under Gen. Georg von der Marwitz, launched a counterstroke with 20 divisions against the flanks of the salient created by the British advance. In the north the attack was parried, but in the south it broke through, and a disaster for the British was averted only by the superb counterattack, first by the Guards Division and later by a tank brigade.The 20th (Light) Division were still holding almost all of the road between Masnières and Bonavis when the Germans launched their attack. They were in a difficult position not having been able to advance during the British offensive as far as the St Quentin Canal. From their current trenches they couldn’t see the canal crossings but were in turn overlooked by the Germans sitting on the high ground above Crèvecoeur.

The 10th Kings Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC) on the right and near Lateau Wood had a horrific morning. Storm Troopers covered by the mist swarmed in and around them from all directions constantly taking the route of least resistance. Just twenty men from the Battalion survived the day. The story repeated itself with the 11th KRRC to the left and the 10th Rifle Brigade who were behind them. The Division was forced back leaving the way open for the Germans to enter les Rues Vertes behind the 29th Division who were on the northern side of the canal and now alone. Lewis was killed during this attack.